Hercules Hampers Branches and Call Centers

The first snowstorm of 2014 has forced dozens of credit unions, mainly in the Northeastern states, to delay the Friday opening of branches and call centers.

Although a few credit unions leagues have closed their offices, employees are working from home.

Despite the storm’s high winds, credit unions have so far reported no power failures and said their ATMs and online banking services are working. However, the delays of branch and call center openings were necessary because the storm, named Hercules, made road conditions dangerous and some state officials asked people to stay home on Friday.

Depending on road conditions, some credit unions in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire have delayed opening their branches or call centers, said Robert B. Kimmett, said senior vice president of marketing for the Massachusetts Credit Union League.

Kimmett said the central and eastern Massachusetts, the coastal regions of Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire were hit hard by the snowstorm. Boston had more than a foot of snow while other areas of the state had nearly 18 to 23 inches of snow by Friday morning, reported the Weather Channel.

Kimmett said the league office in Marlborough, Mass., is closed today but employees are working from their homes.

The New Hampshire Credit Union League office in Manchester and Credit Union Association of Rhode Island office in Providence also are closed Friday, but employees are working from home.

The New Jersey Credit Union League office in Hightstown is operating in “business continuity mode,” which means many league employees can be reached via mobile phones and emails to serve credit union members.

Candice Nigro, a spokesperson for NJCUL, said the league has received a handful of reports from credit unions that have decided to close or delay opening branches.

For example, the $326 million Credit Union of New Jersey in Ewing, N.J. closed three of its five branches and two branches were scheduled to open at 11 a.m.

So far, NJCUL has not received any reports of power failures or damages to branches.